Conference noted::equitation

At the risk of opening myself up to controversy, I thought that positive 
Coggins horses were to be put down ASAP.  If not by law, at least by 
common sense.

    I also would think that common sense would prevail.  But, I know
    personally of three individuals who have positive tested horses who
    keep them at their homes.  In one of those cases she has other horses
    pastured with it. In all three cases the horses have no negative
    physical problems as a result.  Besides being carriers they appear 
    to be healthy.  I know of no law requiring that horses be put down.
    
    I also am curious as to whether there are laws concerning this issue.

What exactly is COGGINS?  Why is it so deadly or scarey?

Ed..

    I too thought a positive Coggins horse had to be put down.....your 
    vet should know this answer.
    
    Is it possible that horse has strangles and isn't positive coggins?

    In Colorado it is manitory to putdown a positive horse. No exceptions!
    
    
    Carl

re .3

	The Coggins test is used to detect Equine Infectious Anemia. Obviously,
	as the name suggests, it is very contagious and can be devastating. I
        have heard of horses being 'carriers' though, showing no symptoms of 
	the disease.

	I am not up to date on the latest laws, but I do know of a case in
	New Hampshire (it was a friends horse). The horse tested positive and 
	an agent of the state (i don't recall whether it was agriculture or
	health) came to the farm and took the horse away to be destroyed. There 
	was no consent required from the owner as I recall (though i may be 
	mistaken).

	I would consider looking into it if were me and my horses. Speaking
	of that, where are you located?   

    I think the law used to specify that a horse that tested positive had
    to be put down.  Then someone noticed that more horses were being
    slaughtered than ever died from the disease prior to the testing. 
    Seems some horses that are carriers can lead long, healthy lives, but
    are able to infect other horses, who might not be so lucky.
    
    Where is your neighborhood, if I might ask?
    
    -ellie

    The current law in Mass. is that the animal must be put down or must be
    isolated from vector sources.  Vectors for this disease are primarily
    considered to be biting insects.  All this assumes that the animal has
    tested positive on a Coggins test.  If there is no movement of the
    horse out of state, or if the horse is not sold at auction or shown,
    there is no requirement to have a Coggins.
    
    Some vets have argued that not enough is known about the disease to
    justify destruction.  This is due to some testing which has shown that
    horses within a mixed herd (some with EIA and some without), do not
    always contract the disease.
    
    The bottom line is that I wouldn't panic just yet.  I believe it is the
    responsibility of the vet to send the positive Coggins to the state for
    disposition.
    
    Bob
    

    Please don't panic. For two reasons:
    
    1) As others have told you, the disease is spread by insects. The
    strongest insect flyers are certain species of flies. They have a
    maximum range of about 1 mile. If the positive horse is 2 miles away
    that should provide a good buffer zone for your horse.
    
    2) The Coggins test is just indicates whether or not the animal has
    been exposed to the disease not that it HAS the disease. It's kind of
    like polio in humans. If they did a blood test on us for polio most of
    us would test positive because we've been vaccinated against the
    disease. The Coggins test checks for antibodies against the disease so
    if a horse was exposed and fought off the disease, it would test
    positive for life even if it were not a carrier. Like somebody said in
    an earlier note, more horses were put down due to positive Coggins
    tests than ever died of the disease.
    
    Good luck
    John

    I have read of tests being done with controlled herds over a period
    of several years, (this was some time ago, so I don't remember the 
    source) but the article read that "they" kept one herd of horses, 
    half had positive coggins and half had negative.  The horses lived/
    ate together and supposedly none of the negative horses developed 
    positive coggins during that time period. FWIW.
    
    \Caroline 

    Thank you all for your info.  My vet said there is probably nothing to
    worry about although he did not think this was cool.  He said it is
    spread through insects biting one horse and then another, not through
    casual contact (like aids).  Horses have to live together.  He
    indicated barn flies/insects do not travel that far (2 miles).  The vet
    indicated it is not a law in Mass that the infected horse must be put
    down but they must be isolated. I am not sure how the law reads on
    isolation.  This horse is in Ashby near the West Townsend/Lunenberg
    borders. 

    Again help.  I appreciate everyone's response but after careful study
    of a topographical map and "as the crow flies" this horse is only 3/4
     of a mile from my horse!  I have a call into my vet. This is going to
    get sticky.  I will let you all know what happens but any suggestions
    and comments are appreciated.  Thanks so much for all your comments so
    far.
    
    Darlene  

(I am not a regular contributor but...). I wanted to correct 
some misinformation in 1609.11. 

>  worry about although he did not think this was cool.  He said it is
>   spread through insects biting one horse and then another, not through
>    casual  worry about although he did not think this was cool.  He said it is
>    spread through insects biting one horse and then another, not through
>   casual contact (like aids).
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I believe that it is important that we understand how diseases are
transmitted so that we can take necessary precautions (both for ourselves
and for our animals) without going to unnecessary and potentially
harmful extremes.

Darlene, I don't know if your vet made the above comment or if you
added the comment about AIDS. AIDS is NOT spread by casual contact.
A better anology is to use heartworm in dogs or malaria in people.
Colds are spread by casual contact.

I think it is important that you don't panic. The bugs haven't
appeared yet so you have time to do some research on EIA and carriers.
What to do with carriers is very controversial so you will hear
lots of opinions and assertions. You may want to call Tufts or Cornell
to get further information.

Vicky

    I still wouldn't panic.  You know that the horse tested positive; you
    don't know if the horse is a carrier.  As John mentioned earlier, they
    are two different things.

>>  worry about although he did not think this was cool.  He said it is
>>   spread through insects biting one horse and then another, not through
>>    casual  worry about although he did not think this was cool.  He said it is
>>    spread through insects biting one horse and then another, not through
>>   casual contact (like aids).
>     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
re: .13
>Darlene, I don't know if your vet made the above comment or if you
>added the comment about AIDS. AIDS is NOT spread by casual contact.
>A better anology is to use heartworm in dogs or malaria in people.
>Colds are spread by casual contact.


	The initial statement could also be read as 'like AIDS, EIA is not 
spread through casual contact'. (although I have to agree that the first time
I read the statement I had the same understanding as .13)

re: .11

I spoke with my veterinarian today about the laws around EIA. He said that there
is a fedral law that requires horses testing positive to be handled in one of
two ways:
		o the horse may be quarantined at the owner's expense at one
		  of 3 federally maintained facilities in South Carolina

		o the horse is humanely destroyed

There is no consent required by the owner. This is a federal law, so it should
not vary with state or locality. 

I know it is contradictory to some of the other replies under this topic. There
may be workarounds, though it doesn't sound as though they are really "legal".
It is consistent though with the experience that my friend in N.H. had with her 
horse.

Base noter, are you certain that the horse tested positive? Could it have been
a word of mouth type of thing?